Tracking the Tigers with MLB.com beat writer Jason Beck.

Players hold pregame meeting

It’s very odd for players to meet prior to a day game after a night game (at least around the Tigers clubhouse, it is), but apparently it was a spur of the moment decision on the players’ part to bring everybody together as soon as the players on the later bus arrived at the park. There weren’t many details afterwards, but one player said the focus was to get guys to relax a little and do what they’re capable of instead of trying to be a superhero out there. It did not appear to be a tense meeting by any stretch, because the players were very loose and in a pretty good mood when the clubhouse opened up afterwards. But these guys have done a pretty good job of not carrying the previous day’s frustrations into the next day.

A couple lineup switches for the day game after the night game, but Leyland said those were more about getting Ramon Santiago and Brandon Inge a day in the lineup than giving Ivan Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria a day off. After all, they had back-to-back days off Sunday and Monday.

Granderson, CF

Polanco, 2B

Guillen, 3B

Ordonez, RF

Cabrera, 1B

Sheffield, DH

Joyce, LF

Inge, C

Santiago, SS

The Royals give Alex Gordon, David DeJesus, Mark Grudzielanek and John Buck the day off, but Jose Guillen is still in there. Keep an eye on Alberto Callaspo, who made his name as a very exciting player on Miguel Cabrera’s winter ball team and in the Caribbean Series:

Joey Gathright, CF

Esteban German,3B

Billy Butler, 1B

Jose Guillen, DH

Miguel Olivo, C

Mark Teahen, RF

Alberto Callaspo, 2B

Ross Gload, LF

T.J. Pena, SS

As a footnote, Jacque Jones passed through waivers and was released this afternoon. He’s now a free agent who can sign with any team he chooses who wants him, including the Florida Marlins.

18 Comments

Is it possible the players are taking some responsibility? Hopefully, but we’ll see what happens and I won’t get my hopes up too high. It is going to take more than a team meeting to bring expectations back to where they were.

I hope the Tigers can keep me from going out and entertaining myself by cowing the lawn.
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Interesting to hear about the team meeting. Not pleased to see Sheffield in the lineup, much rather see Raburn. Meche is a tough nut to crack.
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Tired os seeing Ordonez at cleanup. He needs a reality check.

Better take Rogers out real soon. What we are seeing out there right now reminds me a bit of the circus.
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I can feel myself on the verge of giving up on this team. I know it is early but it is getting later every day. And I just don’t see the signs that they can turn things around. Even Polanco seems to be just going through the motions.
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No power, no speed, no spark, no production, no teamwork, no hope.
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Just polite baseball. Kinda’ like watching a 60’s and over slowpitch back end of a double-header game.
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Beyond embarrased they should be ashamed.

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